How did Stalin consolidate his
control of Eastern Europe?
L/O – To explain why Satellite states were set-up and to
identify the key features of COMINFORM & COMECON
What is a satellite state?
• Satellite State = a country that is
officially independent but is in reality
controlled by another country.
• Between 1947-49, the USSR extended
its control in Eastern Europe by turning
Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia,
Romania, Bulgaria and Eastern
Germany into Satellite States.
• Stalin set-up satellite states as a
buffer-zone for protection and as a
reaction to the Marshall Plan. This
would prevent American influence
spreading.
COMINFORM (1947)
• The Communist Information Bureau was an
international political organisation that
represented Communist Parties across
Europe and brought them under the control
and direction of the USSR.
• Cominform was Stalin’s direct response to
the Truman Doctrine. It tried to ‘contain’
American influence, forced other Satellite
States to reject Marshall Aid and worked to
organise strikes in Western Europe.
• In France, 2 million workers went on strike
in winter 1947, calling for France to reject
Marshall Aid.
COMINFORM (1947)
• Cominform was also used to ensure the
loyalty of East European governments.
• It investigated and reported on government
ministers and removed those not loyal to
Stalin and the USSR.
• In Hungary, 5% of population was in prison
by 1953.
• Cominform consolidated the power of the
USSR over its Satellite States by stamping
out opposition and ensuring the loyalty of
governments.
COMECON (1949)
• The Council for Mutual Economic
Assistance was Stalin’s Communist
alternative to the Marshall Plan.
• It aimed to encourage economic
development in Eastern Europe AND
prevent trade with Western Europe and
the USA.
• COMECON minimised US influence in
Eastern Europe by integrated E.
European economies with the USSR. In
reality, they lost more to the USSR then
they gained.
Conclusion
• The Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan
brought Western Europe into America’s
sphere of influence.
• COMINFORM and COMECON
established Soviet control over Eastern
Europe.
• Marshall Plan and COMECON had
therefore turned these ‘spheres of
influence’ into two official economic
alliances – further cementing the
division between the two camps.
Tasks
1. Complete the following table, summarising the key
features of Cominform and Comecon:
COMINFORM
COMECON
Full name
Date established
Aims
Effects
2. ‘Why did Stalin launch Comecon in 1949? Explain your
answer.’ (8 marks)